You love your new cat, but he?s clawing and scratching all your furniture! The immediate resolution that comes to mind is to have him declawed, but before you rush into this you should think long and hard for declawing a cat is not a simple procedure – it is a major surgery involving surgical amputation of the first joint of a cat?s toe.

Declawing is a painful surgery for your cat. While your cat will get pain medication for his after surgery recovery, the tips of the nerves need time to heal and he can be in pain for weeks or even months until this has happened. This can cause your cuddly little kitty to become highly irritable and aggressive.

Not only that, but the claws are a cats chief chief weapon of defense. Sure, you take every precaution to make sure your cat doesn?t get outside, but what if something happens and he finds himself alone in the elements facing other animals?

There will always be occasions when a cat may be confronted by other cats or dogs. Then, it will find it impossible to strike back, because it has no claws. To use its teeth, it needs to get close to its attacker, which may not happen. A declawed cat therefore become a helpless victim in front any aggressor.

Declawing can also lead to problems in the litter box. Declawed cats sometimes avoid the litter box and choose the softer carpet instead since it is painful for them to dig into the litter. Declawing can also lead to biting problems. Since this is their second line of defense, some cats may resort to deep biting to make up for their lack of claws. Even during play, your cat can no longer scratch as a warning and may be prone to biting now instead.

Claws and toes also provide exercise to your cat. When a cat stretches horizontally on a carpet or vertically with a tail scratching post, it pulls and stretches its muscles by grabbing the carpet or post with its claws. As a matter of fact, the cat?s claws play a large and positive role in its extraordinary muscle tone and agility.

Finally, declawing can cause joint problems later on in your cats life. Cats walk on their toes so the absence of claws can affect all the joints of the leg resulting in arthritis of the hip and other joints later.

But you don?t have to sacrifice your furniture in order to save your cat the pain of declawing. With time and patience you can train your cat to scratch in a more desirable area. Make sure you invest in a scratching post or accessory that your cat likes. Mine loves the simple corrugated cardboard slabs that you can buy in any pet store.

Watch your cat carefully and you will see a pattern of when and where he likes to scratch the most. Put the scratching post in the room where he likes to scratch and wait for him to scratch in his usual place. When you see him starting to scratch distract him and lead him over to the scratching post. Praise him when he uses the post and say ?Bad Kitty? when he uses the furniture. Eventually he will start to favor the post – you just have to make him think it was his idea!

Lee Dobbins is a cat owner and animal lover. Visit Cats at the Family Webzone for more tips and info on cats.

Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from their humans, and advances in veterinary medicine. Most experts consider a cat’s senior years to begin on her 10th birthday. After this point, the aging process begins to slow in even the most playful feline. Yet, with a little extra attention from her owner, Miss Kitty might enjoy another 5-10 years of life and love.

Just as with humans, cats often lose the ability to hear as they age. This often goes unnoticed by owners, who might chalk their cat’s lack of response to typical feline aloofness. Without keen hearing and vision, however, an older cat is more vulnerable to threats from cars and dogs on the street. It is best to keep an older cat indoors. If she loves the fresh air, make sure you supervise her in a protected area.

Even the most easygoing cat can become a finicky eater in her later years. As an older cat’s senses of smell and taste begin to diminish, she becomes less interested in her food. Adding moist food and warming her meals will amplify the scent and make it more tantalizing. Moist food will increase the amount of water in your cat’s diet.

It is important to keep fresh water available for your older cat, and to monitor her drinking habits. Her natural thirst drive can fade with age, causing her to become dangerously dehydrated rather quickly. Take note of about how much water your cat drinks each day. If the amount suddenly drops, and you know she is not getting water from any other source, contact your veterinarian.

Remember that there have been huge advances in medical care for cats in recent years. Online shopping for cat medication has become popular, but remember that there is no substitute for regular check-ups with your veterinarian.

Common problems owners see their geriatric cats develop include difficulties swallowing due to decreased saliva production, less tolerance to extreme heat and/or cold, gum disease and tooth loss, a change in litter habits, and not sleeping well.

Recent studies have uncovered a problem with potassium balance in many older cats. Poor coat condition, loss of appetite and lethargy have been linked to a mild form of hypokalemia, or low blood potassium. Low blood potassium damages the cat’s kidneys, which, in an older cat, are already weakening. This leads to a vicious cycle because declining kidney function increases the loss of potassium in the blood, which in turn causes further deterioration of the kidneys.

Arthritis and stiffness is fairly common in older cats. Because it becomes more difficult to move, a geriatric cat spends more time sleeping. If her diet stays the same, she’ll begin to pack on the pounds. The extra weight adds to her discomfort, making her more inclined not to move. Without exercise her muscles will weaken. It is important to encourage an older cat into some activity every day. Physical movement will help with digestion and bowel function, as well as keep her sharp mentally.

An older cat spends less time grooming herself than in her youth. As a result, her hair becomes dry and painfully matted. Regular grooming from her owner is required to keep her coat healthy and beautiful. Daily brushing removes loose hair that can form uncomfortable hairballs in her stomach.

As your cat gets older its important that she is comfortable. You should ensure that your cat has a comfortable, warm bed that she can stretch out on. Cushions and hammock bed on radiators are popular.

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Our cat, Ghanji, has a boxing buddy that is so bold as to use the cat door to come in and help himself to some munchies ? and spray some of his scent around to annoy the master of the house ? and us as well. Failing to determine if this was a neighbor’s cat or a wild thing, we enlisted the guidance of the local animal shelter. They loaned us a cage to capture the culprit so they could change his disposition via surgery and then release him back into the neighborhood. Well, when Ghanji saw the cage in the garage with some of his food in it and realized what was up, he gave a disgusted twitch of his tail as if to say, ?Who did I think would be stupid enough to fall for this?? He was right ? no prize after 3 weeks ? so much for the safari approach.

With spring in the air we found that a skunk had also discovered the small doorway into our garage. Fortunately he/she moved on to other territory before discovering the 2 nd door leading indoors. It was shortly after this that I noticed the garage door looked like it had been bombarded with a barrage of miniature water balloons from a gang of marauding leprechauns ? and then the aroma grabbed me by the nose hairs. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I had a great time with Ghanji scheming over all the different things we could do to his sparing partner if we caught him. Then a faint whisper came through to remind me that I prefer to live and let live. Yes, I fully respect this guys right to do his ?cat thing? ? OUTSIDE.

O.K., how can our king come and go as he pleases while keeping out the riff raff? I had heard of electronic pet doors and so had most of the local merchants, but nobody stocked any on their shelf. Internet, here we come. Seems like if you know what you want, finding a keyed entry door is simply shopping for size and price. What we found lacking was some basic guidelines for how to choose between the options of magnetic key vs. infrared key, and 3 types of doors ? magnetic mechanism, electronic release mechanism and motorized door. The following is not an endorsement of any particular type but simply a brief report differences we found that may enlighten you with some additional information that the marketing people seem to have left out.

The most obvious factor to consider first is the size of the door ? it needs to be big enough for your pet. Next, choose where the door will be, examine the ?construction site? and see if it may need any special considerations when installing the door. This will also help you choose between options of different models. For example, some are more weather resistant than others. If the door will be exposed to the sun, make sure the door and mountings are UV stabilized. Will you be cutting into wood, glass, metal, or just the screen in the screen door ? or are you placing the door in a window? Lots of options.

Magnetic key vs. Infrared key

Battery power has some obvious drawbacks when the battery goes dead. Could be an interesting candid camera moment to see fluffy banging her hear against a locked door, especially if it’s an ?I gotta go? moment. None of the electronic keys I found were weather proof. Our cat likes his outside time, no matter what the weather ? so for him a key that may fail if wet was not good. The biggest advantage for an electronic collar is it is more unique. This way if neighbor pets also have a key on their collar, odds are it will not work on your door. One other advantage of an electronic key is that it works at a further distance from the door ? enough in some cases to allow a pet to enter on the run. This seems to be more of a consideration for dogs than cats.

A disadvantage of a magnetic key is it does pick up metal. If your pet is going to frequent areas and roll in the dirt where stray nails, bottle caps etc. are a concern, you may want to consider an electronic key. Ghanji pointed out to me one day that a critical factor with a magnetic key is it does need to be in the right position on the collar. If the collar is too loose, your flustered friend can nudge the door all day long and it will remain locked ? unless the key just happens to swing forward enough to unlock the door.

3 basic types of doors:

Magnetic release mechanism (lock) with magnetic key. This is type is totally mechanical requires no maintenance; i.e., no batteries or electrical of any kind

Electronic release mechanism with magnetic key or electronic key. Some doors are battery powered and some can be wired to an outlet. There are enough choices in this category to fulfill a variety of applications.

Motorized door with electronic key. The one I found in this category has a door that opens and closes like a guillotine via a motor. For larger pets, especially dogs that like to come in with minimal hesitation, this looks great. You may have some other unique concern for your purposes that may make this type just right for your pet.

One feature that made sense for us was a 4-way locking system so we could set it for ?in only.? This way when the boss has a late date or has a fun time mousing and losses track of time, he can make discrete entry without us having to go lock the door after him. Around here we have coyotes wandering at night so we have a curfew that we feel more comfortable enforcing rather than allowing total freedom.

The most important part of this whole process was an open communication with Ghanji. We explained what the problem was we wanted to solve and why we were changing his door and thereby his routine. The delicate part of this was convincing him that wearing a collar to carry his personal key would be a good thing. A previous caretaker made him a bell around his neck, which he did not like. Being aware of this we reassured him this collar had nothing to do with chasing birds or mice or changing his image, but how he was really special and now is the ONLY cat in the hood with his own key = cool stuff. Some may think it is silly to talk to animals ? you are very welcome to your opinion. For the rest of us who know our furry friends are sentient beings, feel free to enhance your life’s experiences.

Ghanji was quite excited when the day came to modify his private entrance. After supervising installation of the new door, he was curious to see for himself what was different. He was intrigued with the key as I showed him how the door was locked but then moving the key to the entry unlocked the door. He’s a fast study so next was the collar. After one last anxiety attack that he was losing freedom with the collar, we came to an agreement to try it for a while and see if I was telling the truth. I reassured him several times that this was something really special for him and we felt he was ?big enough? to have his own key and since he didn’t have pockets, a collar made sense. Now his food supply lasts a LOT longer, the house has people smells and Ghanji thinks he’s the most well catered cat in the whole neighborhood. He’s very proud to put on his key first thing in the morning as he goes out to wake up the birds and check on his domain.

P.S. In case you are concerned about loosing any status – when we are available, Ghanji still prefers his ?servants? to open the big door. So, although his door gained him more independence, we still have our place serving him = job security.

David Alen and Jaynne Nicols are concerned ‘parents for Ghanji’ and live in the High Sierras. Ghanji’s webmaster will be updating his pictures as soon as new ones become available. Please visit Ghanji’s website and book section at Pet Books .

Jaynne Nicols has done a lot of research into illness and why we get ill. One of the things she came across is that almost all illness starts in your colon. Sign up for her free newsletter Health and Wellness in the 21st Century and learn more in and through her series on health issues.

Just as you relish having your own room where you can enjoy a moment of solace, your dog likes having its own room, too. Dogs still retain a few of their ancient characteristics, and would love to have some kind of a den ? a little, cozy place of their own. Some people may have an aversion to dog crates, since they believe that it?s much of a cage. However, dog crates offer a superlative home for your dog where it can feel safe and secure.

Dog crates come in a variety of styles and materials and choosing the best for your dog can often be a bewildering experience. It pays to shop around, since some dog crates are more robust than others. The most prevalent type of dog crates are those made of plastic or heavy welded steel wires. Plastic dog crates are lightweight, portable, and are easily dismantled for travel or storage. On the other hand, steel wire crates are not that flexible but still offer better ventilation relative to the plastic version. The material and style of the dog crate should be durable enough to resist chewing.

A crucial aspect to consider while buying a dog crate is its size. A dog crate should be large enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down with ease. Your dog should be able to stretch out on its side and sleep comfortably. Moreover, if you own a growing puppy, it is recommended that you purchase a dog crate with dividers. This way you could expand the crate size as your puppy grows.

A good quality dog crate for a medium to large dog can cost anywhere between $50 and $125. A durable dog crate will last throughout your dog?s life. Moreover, it will certainly save you from an awful lot of dog trouble ? damaged furniture, carpets and other belongings.

Just check through ads in popular dog websites in order to find a few genuine companies that offer great pet products. Buy that durable and comfy dog crate, thereby providing a ?haven in your home? for your dog.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong dog lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about many aspects of dog health and care. http://www.Best-Pet-Health.info. Dog News Center – Dog Article Directory – Submit Your Articles Now

Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

It was a warm, tropical night with soft sea breezes, the sounds of a million night frogs, and the heavy scent of hibiscus hanging on that breeze. My wife and I had just arrived in the twin-island republic of Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies. We were the guests of the local government, staying at a famous resort hotel, located in 25 acres of landscaped gardens. We had just finished dinner and decided to take a romantic stroll in the moonlight to absorb the sensory reality that is the tropics.

As we crossed a manicured lawn walkway, in the headlights of an approaching taxi we could see a large ?mound? that, as we got closer and could see better, seemed to be unexplainably moving. The mound was moving!

Then–now that we could see clearly–we understood. This ?mound? was animal excrement; and it was totally covered by moving Trinidadian cock roaches! We went back into the hotel but on our way back to the lobby and pool area, we spotted at least four other piles of such waste. Now it was quite difficult to keep our dinner down.

The local dogs run on the property depositing their business at all hours. Naturally this immediately attracted all manner of insects, particularly the tropical variety of cockroach. These guys fly in like B-52?s. Locals say you have to watch they don?t carry off your cat.

This true story came to mind when friends in the lodging business asked me to research a new burgeoning market segment: guests traveling with their pets. The pet industry is booming like never before. Lodging operators have realized that millions of pet owners want to travel with their pet. There are more than a dozen pet-friendly directories on the web, comprised of lodging establishments that welcome guests with pets. When trip planning, simply click on these web-based pet-friendly directories and determine which hotels on your route, or at your intended destination, accept pets with the guest in the room.

But let me pause for the cause, for just a moment of reality. Getting as basic as I can here–to make my point–one thing we know for sure is that dogs and cats, like we humans, have to eat and they have to–well you get the picture. The question raises itself. How does a hotel owner manage this potential mountain of pet poop? The answer rises to the appropriate occasion: someone had to invent a very special plastic totally biodegradable doggie bag. One that conveniently assists the pet owner in picking up after his pet and allowing him to dispose of this unwanted waste in such a manner that the plastic bag and its contents totally degrade into nothing but CO2, water and humic matter, when it is put in the landfill or the composting containers. These people originally began marketing plastic biodegradable trash bags and bags for carrying home the groceries from the supermarket.

Let?s face it: if a hotel is going to appeal to and welcome guests traveling with their pets, that hotel is going to have to manage the poop problem. Whether inside the room as in the case with the kitty box, or outside the room on the hotel grounds, in the expensive shrubs and flower beds, or on the manicured lawns, ?poop management? can be a big problem?or opportunity for the hotel owner.

Many hotels provide those guests with one or three of these branded doggie bags upon check-in. Some have also added some explanatory information about their environmentally-friendly poop management program in the guest room. Now when you travel with your pet, you?ll see that the real smart hotels are concerned about the environment and are carefully handling such waste. This sends another positive message to you?including those without pets?that this hotel, inn or resort is really professional and caring for the safety and comfort of all its guests.

? Copyright, Roy W. MacNaughton, 2006

For more information about these unique, environmentally-friendly doggie bags, readers are invited to contact the Chief Pet Officer, at http://www.ecosafeplastics.com Roy MacNaughton is a writer and niche marketing specialist, with more than 25 years of hands-on international marketing experience. He can be contacted using his full name, (in lower case) at gmail.com

?Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o’ fur??- An Irish saying about cats, perhaps best describes what pleasure-giving creatures cats can be.

Jean Burden, beautifully defines the feline beauty. ?A dog, I have always said, is prose; a cat is a poem.? Cats for many people, are really very lovable – remember ?Snowbell? – the cat of ?Stuart Little?.

Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to many ailments. Cat grooming is a very important part of keeping a cat as a healthy pet. Cat supplies can be defined as important things that can be purchased for cat grooming, and maintaining general good cat health.

Cat supplies is a general term that covers a variety of important cat care products. These topics could be used when undertaking an online Internet search for good value cat supply products for your pets – cat-grooming supplies, cat pet supplies, cat training supplies and discount cat supplies.

Cat Grooming:

Cat grooming is in fact a long program of cat health care that covers the entire life span a cat. It includes feline care, feline health care, feline diabetes care etc. It also includes practices like kitten care, giving a hygiene bath, general cleaning, combing, brushing, checking ears, paws, teeth and underside, nail trimming, removing cat fleas and insects and fixing regular meetings with a professional veterinary. Cat owners should follow a regular schedule of grooming sessions.

Like children, infant cats, known as kittens, require some extra special attention. A kitten is delicate and should be handled with care. It also needs to be groomed properly, fed carefully, and bedded properly.

Cat Grooming Supplies:

Cat grooming supplies play a key role in the process of maintaining a happy and healthy cat. Supplies for your pet may include a special cat home or house, cat doors, cat furniture, cat carrier, cat beds, heated cat beds, cat toys, cat collars, designer cat collars, jeweled or jingling cat collars, cat odor removers, cat clothes, special cat jewelry, cat food, cat tonics & supplements and cat medication.

Cat Beds:

A cat bed is a bed specially designed for the sleeping comfort of a cat. It should be the most pleasurable place for a cat where it retires to take sweet dreams. Good cat beds are actually quite important for maintaining good cat health. An improper sleep may very much affect the general health of your cat – thus the masters of cats should be very careful when buying cat beds. A cat bed and cat bedding should include a cat bed mattress, cat bed sheet, cat pillows, cat throw pillows, cat blankets and cat quilt or duvets.

Cat beds are available in numerous styles and include designer cat beds, heated cat beds, luxury cat beds, wicker cat beds, leather cat beds, etc.

There are number of designer cat pet beds available on the market for purchase, both in physical pet stores, and also online. Many pet bed manufacturers now sell their cat beds online, through their official company websites.

Paul MacIver writes articles about pets and Pet Health. Visit Ultimate Pet Supplies to read more about cats and kittens, pet products and supplies. You may freely reprint this article as long as nothing is changed, this resource box is included and all links are intact.

Dogs Will Work for Nazis

During the night, I often wake just enough to feel the gentle pressure of Little Neal, one of my cats, snuggling his back against my calves, my thighs, or my butt.

It?s an extremely comforting feeling.

It tells me that everything in my house is as it should be, peaceful and calm. Were there a door ajar, a strange cat prowling, or an intruder, every cat in the house would be investigating. They would all be sniffing, peering and craning to see what was going on. But, if my little grey Burmese is snuggling against me, everything is fine.

The subtle pressure of his body is a great compliment. This extraordinary, still wild creature has chosen me to lay down with. A cat will not lay down with just anybody. A cat?s love and trust is earned and earned again every day. A cat will not easily allow himself to be taken for granted.

But, a cat won?t shake hands, or sit up. Remarked my doctor the other day during a telephone conversation.

Well of course not. I thought, but didn?t bother saying.

I didn?t bother saying it because it was preposterous on its face, the idea of a cat performing cheap tricks for a morsel of food.

No, you?ll never see a self respecting cat wearing a jester?s collar, performing for the entertainment of inferior beings who for some reason are amused by such foolishness. But, then again, you will never see a cat on a leash, snapping at the heels of wretched Jews in box cars.

Dogs will work for Nazi?s. Cats will not.

Cats have never been the pet of choice for people who find themselves drawn to subservience and obedience. Cats have a kind of stiff-necked pride that I think appeals more to women than to men. Men are, as a general rule, team players, ruled by the dominance hierarchy. Women are far more subversive, as Western civilization has recognized for eons. Women are very much like cats. They will, in the end, generally follow their own internal dictates and would rather starve themselves than compromise their ideals.

Women, like cats, are survivors. Smaller and lighter than their competitors, they have learned to run and fight only when cornered. Once cornered, however, they come out with teeth and nails flashing in a rush of fury that can scare the be-Jesus out of the bravest man.

Needless to say, as a woman, I live my life surrounded by cats and with a man who admires them almost as much as I do. I find this an admirable quality. My husband was, in fact, accepted into the family by one of my cats who climbed up on his chest before I had even decided to admit him into the fold. But, I get ahead of myself. That is a story for later.

Dr. Johns is a criminologist, trip planner, and freelance writer. She has a cat blog at http://www.blogspot.lylajean

Food

Dry food has been a recommended staple diet for cats by many experts for a number of years. It is an easy option to leave a bowl of dry food out constantly; something that cannot be done with tinned food. Unfortunately though, it?s not a natural food source and has been developed by humans using many additives and un-natural products. Cats, like humans, will eat until they fill themselves up. However, dry food has many more calories and carbohydrates than a natural food source, which leads to the cat taking in far more than necessary just to feel full-up. Many owners assume that their cat is just greedy, but in many cases it is not the quantity of food being eaten, it is the quality.

Naturally, cats are obligate carnivores; meaning they only feed on other animals. The cats prey however, are generally herbivorous and have various vegetable and plant matter in their guts. All of which, will be consumed by the cat. Domestic cats have been shown to have longer intestines than wild cats; proving they have evolved over hundreds of years to cope with more plant and vegetable matter (carbohydrates). Still, this is no excuse to turn a carnivore into an omnivore. Rather, supplementing the diet with small amounts of carbohydrates is acceptable.

Many consumers believe that dried food is actually better for cats. The manufacturers have implemented the belief that all these additives such as corn and grains are an important part of a cat?s diet, implying ?the more the better? approach. Although very small quantities of these may benefit the cat, too much will be detrimental to their health.

Kidney disease is one of, if not the biggest killer in cats. Kidney disease is usually a result of lack of water and unfortunately, cats have a very low thirst drive. Although they may drink when eating dry food, they will generally only take in half of the liquid necessary for their health. A cat?s prey item consists of around 75% water, canned and raw foods have a similar amount. Dry foods on the other hand usually have a maximum of 10% water content. It is obvious therefore, that canned or raw foods are an absolute must to maintain a healthy cat.

Cats need a high level of protein in their diet which must come from animals. Plant protein differs from meat protein, and should not be substituted. When protein is calculated in canned food, the moisture content must be subtracted from 100 and the protein percentage worked out from the result. For instance, a canned food with 8% protein and 75% water means that the true protein value should be worked out like so:

Non-Moisture Content = 25%so:8 ? 25 x 100 = 32
Therefore: True Protein Value = 32% which is ideal.

The amino acid ?taurine? is also an essential part of a cat?s diet, and can only be found in meat products. It is recommended that a quantity of 2000mg/kg or 0.2% should be available in canned food. Other vitamins and minerals should also be included. Preservatives, colouring and added flavours are used more for the customers benefit rather than the cats. If it looks and smells nice to a human, there is a higher chance of them buying it.

There are very few foods on the market which actually have an ideal amount of everything included. Many diets have concentrated on having high a protein and moisture diet with low carbohydrates, but lack in having enough taurine or vitamin B. If this is the case, offering other canned foods on occasion that are better in these areas should be considered. This will also help stop the cat becoming addicted to any 1 food type. Inter-changing the various meats such as beef, chicken and fish will also benefit by offering varying amounts of vitamins, minerals and oils.

Buy quality, not quantity. Most cheap cat foods are cheap for a reason. Avoid buying canned foods that say ?meat?, ?by-products?, ?bone meal? or ?animal digest?. Chemical preservatives such as ?BHA?, ?BHT?, ?ethoxyquin? and ?propyl gallate? have been seriously questioned as being detrimental to the health of cats, and should also be avoided. Canned foods are a must for adding much needed calcium into the diet, which is essential for building healthy bones and teeth.

High energy food has been designed for cats with high energy levels. This food will not benefit a cat which sits around all day, in fact in will make the situation worse. High energy foods will not make a less active cat become energetic.

There is a common misconception that canned food is bad for your cat?s teeth, and dry food is good. Unfortunately neither statement is completely true. Neither food types are actually good for the health of teeth. Dry food is hard and crunchy, completely the opposite of what a cat?s teeth are designed to do, which is tear away at meat. I recommend you brush and rinse your cat?s teeth on a regular occasion.

There are two methods to feeding a cat. The first is to leave a bowl of food out all the time. This is obviously done with dry food and not meat. Since we recommend feeding a diet of canned or raw meat, this method is not acceptable and you should opt for the second method. This is to have a feeding regime of 2 to 4 times per day. Feeding this way allows a more controlled amount of food being eaten. You need to decide how many times per day you will feed your cat. The more often the better, but if you are an owner which is out during the day several times a week, it may be better to opt for a twice a day routine. Alternatively, cat feeding dishes which are set on a timer can be purchased and are a good option if you only go out on occasions.

The total amount of canned food your cat should is listed below. It is important to divide this total amount of food up equally among all of its feeds. The chart below is appropriate to cats that are getting their appropriate amount of calorie intake per day, which is approximately 25 calories per pound in weight. This chart is for healthy adult cats weighing approximately 8-10lbs. Not overweight or obese cats.

Type / Age of CatWeight of Canned Food
2 ? 10 Years200g
Geriatric (10 Years )160g
Neutered or Spayed160g
Inactive or Indoor160g

Treats

Treats are given to cats for different reasons depending on the owner. Surveys have shown that overweight humans are more likely to have overweight pets. They show that overweight people are unable to control their own weight properly due to lack of will power. They have the same lack of will power when their pets are ?begging? for treats.

Treats are often given because it is a way of making the pet feel more welcome. If the owner is out of the house all day, they often make up for it by giving treats. This is the easy way of doing things and totally unhealthy. Rather, making up for it by spending just 5 quality minutes with the pet is far more rewarding. You may decide to simply brush the cat, or you could play with it by throwing a small toy mouse or ball around. Either way, the cat will enjoy being with you more than it will eating a treat, and exercise will aid its health.

Some owners offer treats because they think the cat doesn?t eat enough dinner. The treats are designed and flavoured to be ?irresistible? to the cat, and they will eat it whether they are hungry or not. Treats should not be offered for this reason. Providing your cat looks healthy and is the appropriate weight, it will be feeding just fine. If your cat is a poor feeder, they should be tempted by other feeding methods, not with treats.

Higher Risk Cats

Neutered or Spayed

I would like to point out before anything, that the act of neutering or spaying your cat will not make it overweight. Rather, it is how you care for it afterwards that will affect its weight.

A neutered cat loses its desire to ?roam? like an ?intact? cat would do. They are not as inquisitive and generally get less exercise than intact cats. Because of this, their metabolism is slower than normal by around 20-25%. With a slower metabolism, comes a lower need for calories. A neutered or spayed cat should intake approximately 20% less calories.

Breed

Some breeds of cat are naturally slimmer than other breeds; such as the Siamese and Ornamental Short Hair. These breeds are far better at maintaining a good body condition than larger breeds. Pedigree cats are also generally fitter than non-pedigree individuals.

Age

Cats are most likely to become overweight from about 2 to 12 years of age. Younger cats have a much higher metabolism and are more energetic than older individuals. Older cats often eat far less, and it is more common for geriatric cats to become skinnier rather than heavier.

Indoor Cats

Indoor cats have many factors weighing them down. To start with, the most obvious factor is being indoors all the time. There is little stimulation inside, and they will not get the exercise that an outdoor cat will be able to. Many static toys that are offered to indoor cats become boring. They will soon lose interest in scratching posts and similar toys. Repetitive electronic toys can also become predictable and boring. The most enjoyable form of playing for the cat is to interact with the owner. Waving string around or rolling a small ball around will keep the cat amused for far longer.

Being inside all the time also means more contact with the owner is likely. This usually means more treats are given.

The temperature is an important factor too. An outdoor cat will use more energy and have a higher metabolism simply to maintain its body temperature. Cats living in centrally heated houses don?t have to use much energy to get their body temperature controlled.

Social Environment

This is an area where you just can?t win. There are advantages and disadvantages of having one cat or having multiple cats.

Only cats do not have the same competition for food that a multi-cat household may have. Therefore they may not be as eager to eat as much food and as quickly as a cat in competition with other cats will do. However, only cats are more likely to become bored and have less stimulation around them compared to a cat living with others. Cats have been known to take on habits like humans, such as eating when bored like an only cat may do. They may also eat more when they are stressed, like a cat living in a multi-cat household may do.

A household with more humans is far more likely to inflict extra weight onto a cat. It means more people offering treats, and more people to feed the cat dinner. It is common for many households to become confused as to whether or not the cat has been fed, and if in doubt they will feed it again.

Disabilities

This applies to humans and pets alike. Humans with physical disabilities are less likely to play and exercise their pets. The situation becomes worse if the cat is an indoor cat.

Disabled cats are often ?over-protected? by their owners. Most are automatically turned into indoor cats if they get a disability, and become an excuse for more treats to be offered. Most cats can still exercise and have their mind stimulated with various disabilities. In fact many cats with disabilities will deteriorate quicker if they are not exercised and the mind stimulated properly.

Neighbours

Do you have cat friendly neighbours? Do you know if your cat has gone into other people?s houses before? It is common for other cat lovers to feed a cat that has wondered into their house.

If you think this happens, place a tag onto the cat which is clearly visible and ask politely not to feed the cat. Some people will ignore this, thinking it will not do any harm. To get around this, state that you cat has ?Special Dietary Needs?. They are more likely to pay attention when they think feeding them the wrong food could potentially harm them.

By Chris Jones
Director of Pet Club UK Ltd.
http://www.petclubuk.com

Cats are wonderful, loving creatures. It’s not uncommon to see a cat in every other home, sleeping cozily on the laps and furniture of their owners. It wasn’t always this way. It is said that the cat wasn’t domesticated until about 5000 years ago, in the valley of the Nile, but where did they come from?

The people of Upper Egypt had learned to grow and harvest their own crops. The wellbeing of the people depended on these crops. A means of storage had to be used. At first, these people just kept their grain in baskets, which they soon found was a mistake. Mice, rats and other vermin were eating the grain. This, in turn, attracted the African Wildcat. These cats ate the vermin that was destroying the crops.

The people were grateful to the cats and encouraged them to stay by feeding them fish heads and other scraps. The cats, being abundantly fed and seeing the men as no threat to them, moved in permanently. The African Wildcat was naturally calm and adapted well to living with humans. With time, the cats allowed the humans to approach them, even touch and hold them.

Cats proved to be loyal and endearing companions. They made for excellent hunters, since they sleep in a series of short periods and wake much easier than dogs do. This made their work possible night and day. Cats can also see better than dogs at night and their hearing surpasses a dog’s. Cats would even wake the dogs in the house if they heard something suspicious that the dogs managed to sleep through. They got along greatly with the dogs and humans loved them.

Today, cats are used for show and companionship. Most people don’t keep cats for hunting vermin anymore, as this is generally unnecessary in this day and age. There are many different breeds of cats, each different in their own way. Here are some tips to follow when looking for a purebred kitten.

Look for a kitten in your area. You’ll want to visit and inspect the cattery of your choice before you make any decisions to purchase, so finding a breeder in your area will make this more feasible. The cattery should be clean and in good order. There shouldn’t be an overcrowding of kittens and their habitat should be open and clean. The litter boxes should be kept up nicely and the food and water dishes full and clean. The kittens should never be caged. If there are breeding males present, their cages should be large and clean. The cats should look healthy, having full, shiny coats and no ribs showing.

The kittens should be used to being handled everyday. They should be sweet and outgoing, not timid and afraid. Cats that are handled regularly have a better temperament. Ask to see the parents of the kittens. Both parents should have good temperament and be very healthy. This will also help determine the personality of your kitten. Ask the breeder how soon after birth they sell the kittens. A good breeder doesn’t allow the kittens to be taken home until they are at least twelve weeks of age. Some even wait until they are sixteen weeks of age. This is to ensure the health of the kitten is good and that the immune system has developed properly.

Also, ask if there is a waiting list. Good breeders don’t have an overabundance of cats and many have waiting lists you can be placed on to ensure you get the kitten of your choice. If the waiting list is too long, or there are no kittens available at the time you want one, the breeder might refer you to another cattery.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Cats

You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven to increase your chances of living to a ripe old age. Well the rumour is true, but how exactly is it possible you may be wondering.

Well, it is said that pets are able to penetrate our outer exterior and really connect with us on a deep level where humans are unable. When you look at the facts closely it is hard to argue with.

The first reason why owning a pet could make you live longer, is that they offer you unconditional love without you ever having to ask for it. In fact, this unconditional love is available to you at any given moment, twenty-four hours a day. Next time you are with your pet, take notice of its expressions and you will see that it is full of nothing but love for you.

The second reason is that you can be yourself around your pets. You do not need to put up facades or pretend to be someone that you are not. No matter what you do, you will always have the approval of your pets. Having the freedom to be yourself eliminates the stress that you may be subjecting yourself on a daily basis while out in the real world.

The third reason is that pets offer companionship. You can come home from work to an empty house and that is exactly how it will feel ? empty. But with a pet there to greet you, you have a friend by your side as you kick off your shoes and settle in for a quiet night together.

The fourth reason is that they stimulate you physically, especially dogs. You know that if you don?t take them for a walk, then chances are they go without. So you get out in the fresh air, breath deeply and move those joints and muscles as you enjoy the scenery together. There is nothing like a brisk thirty minute walk to wake up your body.

And lastly they also give you the opportunity to share your love and affection. A pet demands this kind of attention and this helps you to connect with your own emotions on many levels. Doesn?t it just feel wonderful to show a pet how much you love them, and see the heartfelt appreciation in their eyes?

Yes, pets are wonderful for you on a mental, physical and emotional level. Taking this into consideration, if you don?t own a pet yet and you are keen to live as long as you can, you might want consider getting one real soon.

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